Vote Early, County Urges

With a record-setting number of newly registered voters, the Comal County Elections Office urges residents planning to vote in the Nov. 8 election to take advantage of the early voting period, which begins next week.

For Canyon Lake residents, the only change in early voting locations from previous elections is the inclusion of the WORD Office, which sits across the street from the previous polling place, the CRRC Building.

Early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins Monday, Oct. 24, and lasts two weeks.

Along with the race for president, contested races on local ballots include the Comal County sheriff, representatives for U.S. House Districts 21 and 35, a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, three places on the state Court of Criminal Appeals, three places on the Texas Supreme Court, and District 5 representative to the State Board of Education.

Sample ballots, voting-precinct maps, and early voting times and locations can be found at the Comal County elections webpage, votecomal.com.

Record turnout expected

As of Monday, nearly 92,500 Comal County residents had registered to vote, an increase of nearly 14,000 from the 2012 election and the largest such increase in the county’s history. Although the voter-registration deadline passed last week, mail-in registrations continue to trickle in.

In all, more than 71 percent of county residents are now registered to vote, the highest percentage since the 2000 presidential election.

“Our elections staff is working very hard to make sure everyone who is registered can vote easily for the candidates of their choice,” said County Clerk Bobbie Koepp, who oversees the Elections Office. “The more people come out and vote early, the smoother the Election Day process will be for everyone.”

Polling locations

Voters wishing to cast their ballots before Election Day can do so at any of the following four locations:

Comal County Elections Office, 178 E. Mill St., Suite 101, New Braunfels

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 24-28
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4

Garden Ridge City Hall, 9400 Municipal Parkway

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Oct. 24, 26 and 28
• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 25 and 27
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, except Wednesday, Nov. 2, closing at 4 p.m.

Bulverde/Spring Branch Library, 131 Bulverde Crossing

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 24-28
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) Office, 1928 FM 2673, Sattler

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 24-28
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

Voting requirements

Voters who lack a photo ID can still cast a ballot if they bring an alternate form of identification, such as a utility bill, and sign an affidavit at the polling place affirming they do not have a photo ID. A list of alternate IDs allowed at the polls is available on the Texas Secretary of State’s website, votetexas.gov.

“We have trained our precinct judges and volunteers on changes to state law, and they will be prepared to make sure everyone who is eligible can cast a ballot,” said Elections Coordinator Cynthia Jaqua. “We expect high levels of turnout in this election, and we are doing everything we can to make the process as smooth as it can be.”